When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, “Joseph's brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants.
News of the family reunion does not stay in Joseph's private room. It travels through the palace to the king himself. Why should the ruler of Egypt care that a foreign official's brothers have arrived — and be glad about it?
The secret becomes public
Until now, Joseph had dealt with his brothers in private. That changes here.
F. B. HoleThere had been a good deal of secrecy in all these dealings between Joseph and his brothers. Now all secrecy was gone. Pharaoh and all his court now knew what had happened, and it pleased them. The last verse of the next chapter tells us that "every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians." That might have surprised us here, if we did not know, as we said before, that at this period the ruling powers in Egypt were not true Egyptians. They were a foreign race, closely linked with the wandering shepherd people that Jacob and his sons belonged to.
Joy that spreads outward
The gladness is not Joseph's alone. It spreads from him to his brothers, to the king, and to the king's servants. One writer reads the whole scene alongside Luke 15.
C. KnappJoseph's brothers are now reconciled. What follows? The report reaches Pharaoh's house, and it pleases Pharaoh and his servants. This is the Old Testament version of Luke 15. Sinners are received and reconciled; the lost is found; it is, as it were, "life from the dead" with souls. "And there is joy in the presence of God." God and the angels, like Pharaoh and his servants, rejoice when sinners are brought to repentance. There is joy all around. Joseph rejoices; his brothers rejoice; Pharaoh rejoices; his servants rejoice.
Another writer looks ahead from this scene to a greater day of joy.
C. StanleyWhen Joseph's brothers came, it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. What must the joy of God be in the new risen creation! There is joy in the presence of God over one sinner who repents. But that bright resurrection morning is coming, that morning without a cloud — so near. The whole redeemed Church will rise to meet the Lord. Then what a scene of unmixed delight!
Received because of who their brother is
The brothers have done nothing for Egypt. Nothing recommends them except a relationship.
J. G. BellettThe reconciliation waited only for the repentance. Now it is complete, and everything is ready to load the brothers with unlimited blessing. Pharaoh's goodwill is to be fully toward them, as well as Joseph's. They were Joseph's brothers; that was enough for Pharaoh. So Pharaoh will have their aged father brought down and settled, with his households and his flock, in the richest and choicest portion of the land.
Commentators explain the king's pleasure in different ways. Another writer sees plain gratitude at work.
L. M. GrantNews of the coming of Joseph's brothers reaches Pharaoh, and he is pleased to hear it (v. 16). So he confirms what Joseph had said. The brothers are to return to Canaan and bring their father and their households back to Egypt, where Pharaoh will give them the best of the land (v. 17-18). Of course Pharaoh knew he owed Joseph a great deal, and he was glad to show his appreciation in this way.
The invitation that follows
The king's gladness turns at once into an invitation and wagons. Its wording has a familiar ring.
F. B. HoleSo Pharaoh arranged for enough animals and wagons to carry them all. He also sent the message and invitation recorded in verses 17 and 18. Here again we find words that strongly remind us of New Testament language. We quote them: "Come to me, and I will give you…" What does that remind you of? We will all answer that it reminds us of Matthew 11:28: "Come to me… and I will give you rest."
Beyond human planning
From the outside, this is just court news. In fact it is the doorway through which Jacob's family enters Egypt.
William KellyMan's wit could not have devised circumstances so favourable for Jacob and his sons to enter Egypt. Nothing could be simpler than the plain facts of the case. Those facts gave Joseph the administration of the land and attached both the king and his subjects to him.
Summary
- Reconciled — the private forgiveness of the earlier verses opens the door to this public welcome. The blessing "waited only for the repentance."
- Reported — what Joseph settled in secret now reaches the palace; nothing about the reunion stays hidden.
- Received — the brothers bring no merit of their own. "They were Joseph's brothers; that was enough for Pharaoh."
- Rejoiced over — the joy widens from Joseph to his brothers to the king and his servants. It pictures heaven's gladness over sinners who repent.
- Rewarded — the welcome comes with an invitation: "Come to me, and I will give you." The Lord's own call to the weary echoes it.